Next steps for telecoms infrastructure in the UK:

competition, network investment and achieving

full fibre coverage 10th July 2019

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Westminster eForum policy conference: Next steps for telecoms infrastructure in the UK: competition, network investment and achieving full fibre coverage 10th July 2019

© Westminster eForum Important: note conditions of use on front page Page 2

Contents

About this Publication 3

Agenda 4

Session Chair’s opening remarks Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science & Innovation (transcript) 6

Developing future telecoms infrastructure - priorities for regulatory frameworks and design David Clarkson, Competition Policy Director, Ofcom (transcript) 8 Questions and comments from the floor (transcript) 13

Driving competition and investment in networks - regulation, infrastructure sharing and addressing barriers to long-term investment

Emily Clark, Chief Economist, BT Group (transcript) 17

James Tickel, Director, Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Openreach (transcript) 19

Alex Blowers, Head of Regulatory Affairs, CityFibre (transcript) 22

Dr Helen Weeds, Senior Consultant, Charles River Associates and Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Business School, Imperial College London (transcript) 25

Questions and comments from the floor (transcript) 28

Session Chair’s closing remarks Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science & Innovation (transcript) 36

Session Chair’s opening remarks David Clarkson, Competition Policy Director, Ofcom (transcript) 37

Delivering world class digital infrastructure across the UK Andy Green, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission (transcript) 38

Session Priorities for the next generation of telecoms infrastructure - towards full fibre and 5G, developing a secure and resilient network and enhancing consumer experience Alastair Davidson, Director, Wireless Infrastructure Group and Advisory Board Member, UK5G Innovation Network (transcript) 41 Diane Mullenex, Partner, Pinsent Masons (transcript) 43 Richard Spencer, Panel Member, Communications Consumer Panel (transcript) 45 Andrea Donà, Head of Networks, Vodafone UK (transcript) 47 Barry Forde, Chief Executive, Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) (transcript) 49 Questions and comments from the floor with Andy Green, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission (transcript) 51

Next steps for policy Henry Shennan, Deputy Director, Fixed Telecoms and Market Regulations, DCMS (text to be submitted by the speaker) 57 Questions and comments from the floor (transcript) 60

Session Chair’s and Westminster eForum closing remarks David Clarkson, Competition Policy Director, Ofcom (transcript) 64 Douglas Henderson, Senior Researcher, Westminster eForum (transcript) 65

Comments Scott Morrison, Director, Berkeley Research Group (UK) 66

List of Delegates Registered for Seminar 67

Contributor Biographies 72

About the Core Sponsors of the Westminster eForum 75 Please be advised that speakers’ PowerPoint presentations are included within the transcript itself, just beneath the relevant speaker’s text. Please note

that not all speakers are able to grant permission for us to include their slides.

Westminster eForum policy conference: Next steps for telecoms infrastructure in the UK: competition, network investment and achieving full fibre coverage 10th July 2019

© Westminster eForum Important: note conditions of use on front page Page 3

About this Publication This publication reflects proceedings at the Westminster eForum policy conference: Next steps for telecoms infrastructure in the UK: competition, network investment and achieving full fibre coverage held on 10th July 2019. The views expressed in the articles are those of the named authors, not those of the Forum or the sponsors, apart from their own articles. Although Westminster eForum is grateful to all sponsors for the funding on which we depend, participation in events and publications is never conditional on being a sponsor. As well as funding ongoing operations, sponsorship enables the Forum to distribute complimentary copies of publications, and offer complimentary tickets for events, to Government ministers, parliamentarians and officials most involved in policy. This publication is copyright. Its copying, in whole or in part, is not permitted without the prior written consent of the publishers. However, extracts of the text may be reproduced for academic or review purposes, subject to the conditions of use outlined in the previous page, providing they are accurate, are not used in a misleading context and the author, their organisation and the Westminster eForum are acknowledged. We would also appreciate being informed. Westminster eForum UK Headquarters 4 Bracknell Beeches Old Bracknell Lane West Bracknell Berkshire RG12 7BW T: 01344 864796 F: 01344 420121 publications@westminsterforumprojects.co.uk Directors Peter van Gelder Chris Whitehouse